Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li><keyword id="3019100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digiyatra" source="Orion">DigiYatra</keyword> aims to create a common management system with digital identities. </li><li>In the first phase, the application is operational for passengers traveling through Delhi International <keyword id="6355752" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="airport" source="Orion">Airport</keyword> and Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport. </li><li>The app is currently available on Google PlayStore only. </li></ul>Delhi International Airport Ltd and Bengaluru's International Airport are India's first two selected airports to introduce a recently launched DigiYatra application. Based on <keyword id="30939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="facial-recognition" source="Orion">Facial Recognition</keyword> Technology, the application is a Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel experience system. This application is said to make the entry, security checks, and boarding process paperless, quick, and uncomplicated. Passengers traveling from Terminal 3 of Delhi airport can download the DigitYatra application and register to speed up their check-in time. At Bangalore International Airport, the service is operational for all domestic terminals. Currently, no rollout schedule is announced for other airports, but <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/industry/aviation/story/delhi-airport-launches-beta-version-of-digi-yatra-app-for-android-users-details-here-344679-2022-08-15">reports</a> suggest it will be introduced in Pune, Vijayawada, Kolkata, Hyderabad and more by March 2023. The app isn’t accessible to iPhone or iOS users as of now, but Android users can install it from the Play Store. However, it’s said to be available for iOS users soon. Delhi International Airport said it's a Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel experience based on Facial Recognition technology. It aims to provide a paperless &amp; seamless travel experience to the passengers. If you are planning to travel from any of these two airports, register with DigiYatra to avail of the benefits. Passengers traveling will be able to enter and pass all the checkpoints with face recognition which will act as proof of identity. This means only the designated person can enter, and no additional identification documents will be required to prevent physical contact. Also, with no physical documents required like a vaccine certificate, identity proof, ticket and more at security check, boarding, and check-in, this new service will reduce wait times and queues. The application will also send real-time notifications and updates. The DigiYatra platform will be a joint platform to monitor and manage flight details. How to register: <ul><li>Download the DigiYatra application from Google PlayStore and App Store(when available).</li><li>Register on the application with your name, mobile number, and email address.</li><li>Enter the Aadhar information as per UIDAI Guidelines.</li><li>Digi Yatra Id will be created, and passengers can use the Id while booking the ticket.</li><li>On first travel, after generating the Id, the passenger will have to go to the registration kiosk at the airport to validate their Id.</li><li>Aadhar verification can be done online, but other identity proofs require manual verification.</li><li>The photo of the passenger will be reflected on the DigiYatra profile. </li></ul>SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-is-working-on-a-login-approval-feature-to-help-prevent-hacking/articleshow/93423168.cms">WhatsApp is working on a ‘login approval’ feature to help prevent hacking – here’s everything you need to know</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ola-s1-electric-scooter-relaunched-at-an-introductory-price-electric-car-teased/slidelist/93583724.cms">Ola S1 electric scooter relaunched at an introductory price, electric car teased</a>

DigiYatra app will use facial recognition to make airport check-ins faster - here’s how to use it

<ul><li>The Noida International Airport (NIA) at Jewar is all set to become India’s <keyword id="14279786" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="first-digital-airport" source="Orion">first digital airport</keyword>.</li><li>A digital airport will offer paperless and contactless services across all checkpoints in line to its passengers.</li><li>The digital services provided by the NIA will be in line with the central government’s DigiYatra Policy.</li></ul>The Noida International Airport (NIA) at Jewar, which is currently under construction, is all set to become India’s first digital airport. This aviation hub will offer paperless and contactless services across all checkpoints in line to its passengers. Not only will such an airport eliminate long lines for ID verification, it will also save the effort of printing tickets and boarding passes and fishing them out at multiple checkpoints. The first airport in India to facilitate it is Yamuna International Airport Private (YIAPL), which is coming up at Jewar. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What’s a digital airport?" comment="subhead" text="What’s a digital airport?">What’s a digital airport?</cmsannotation> A digital airport would have a one-time verification at the checkpoints for the first time using the ID. This will be stored in DigiYatra ID. After the one-tie verification, the passengers will undergo automatic digital processing based on facial recognition system at checkpoints like; entry-point check, entry into security check, and aircraft boarding. Additionally, this will also facilitate self-bag drop and check-in, using facial recognition to identify pax and data recall. Digi Yatra will facilitate paperless travel and avoid identity check at multiple points. To accomplish this, NIA selected global technology firm <keyword id="4553387" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="icad" source="Orion">ICAD</keyword> Holding as its master system integrator (MSI) consultant and partnered with Indian IT major <keyword id="10862" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wipro" source="Orion">Wipro</keyword> which will act as a sub-consultant to the global tech company. An MSI enables all the technical systems, with all of their disparate parts and pieces to work cohesively and work as designed, throughout its lifespan. ICAD will support NIA with the systems integration design, integration programme management and integration of ICT and airport systems. It will also lead the core airport systems implementation and integration. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Hassle-free and paperless" comment="subhead" text="Hassle-free and paperless">Hassle-free and paperless</cmsannotation> These digital services will be in line with the central government’s DigiYatra policy. Released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2018, the initiative seeks to promote paperless and hassle-free air travel. “India is an emerging market and we at the ICAD Group will work closely with YIAPL and other airport companies, Airports Authority of India (AAI) to deliver signature airport projects in India through the Indian subsidiary,” said Ghassan Sayegh, group CEO, ICAD. The airport project is all set to complete by December 2024, said Feroz Mehdi, director at ICAD said at the press conference. The airport will also be environment friendly with zero-emissions. It intends to maximize the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power, and implement processes for water treatment and recycling. The airport also aspires to be a ‘green airport’ as it promised to preserve all the native species. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/indias-crypto-players-bullish-on-hiring-say-crash-is-just-a-phase/articleshow/92425464.cms">India’s crypto players bullish on hiring; say crash is just a phase</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/a-bengal-based-startup-can-now-produce-oxygen-from-water/articleshow/92434741.cms">A Bengal-based startup can now produce oxygen from water</a>

Wipro, ICAD to create India's first digital airport — here are its features

<ul><li>Unique ID to help identify passengers and make boarding process for domestic flights simpler. </li><li>The unique ID will be biometric-based. </li><li>Vijayawada and Varanasi among the three airports where <keyword id="6549368" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="paperless-boarding">paperless boarding</keyword> will be tested. </li></ul>With the Indian Railways increasing the fare for air-conditioned coaches, many people who preferred trains to flights have now started travelling by air. Thanks to the competition between different airlines, flight ticket prices have become affordable and in many cases, even cheaper than what train journeys would cost. Why waste hours on a train when you can pay lesser and get to your destination sooner? The process of boarding and deboarding a plane, however, remains tiresome. With many ditching trains for flights now, airports have become as crowded as railway stations. Naturally, the queues for boarding passes and for security checks have become longer. But there’s some good news! The government might soon implement a new feature -- a biometric-based unique ID -- that will make the boarding process for domestic flyers smooth. A unique identification number, similar to the Aadhaar, will soon let commuters dodge the boarding processes for domestic flights. A technical team from the Airport Authority of India (AAI) along with four private metro airports where the new scheme is set to be tested, finalized a completely paperless boarding process for domestic flyers. The team has also finalized and proposed the format for biometric-based identification called “Digi-Yatra” (DY). Under the new process, each commuter will be allocated a unique ID from the aviation ministry portal. This unique ID issued will also be linked to the person’s biometrics. Passengers wishing to use the new service will then have to provide the booking site with this ID. Getting the new ID will be optional for passengers. The existing process will continue to remain in place. How do you register for <keyword id="6549964" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="digi-yatra">digi-yatra</keyword> ID? A Digi-Yatra link will be made available on the Air Sewa-II portal soon. Passengers can register there. The verification of the individuals will be done using government-issued ID proof like Aadhaar, driving licence etc.. After registration, whenever the registered person visits the airport the next time, he/she needs to carry the given ID proof and a photograph with them. Iris scans and the details will be captured at the airport. Once that’s done, you can say bye to the long queues for boarding passes. After biometric authentication of the traveller, the E-gate will open. The passenger will be able to avail all the services like check-in, security check and boarding using QR codes and biometrics. Airport websites will also be updated to accommodate the new feature after the proposal is approved by the ministry. The government has selected three airports to test the new scheme. “We have selected three airports, including Varanasi and Vijayawada, for rolling out DY,” <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/unique-id-to-enable-paperless-boarding-for-domestic-flyers/articleshow/64264988.cms">the AAI chief said.</a>

The Indian government is trying to make airline boarding passes obsolete

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Business Insider</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Banks have been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-a-breakdown-of-how-much-us-banks-are-spending-on-technology-2019-3">spending billions</a> on technology in recent years. </li><li>Banks executives made the rounds at financial conferences last week, and a unifying theme was how their monster tech budgets were resulting in meaningful savings. </li><li>Investments in mobile channels, automation, and artificial-intelligence is eliminating costs like paper statements and deposited checks as well as interactions with tellers and call centers.</li><li>JPMorgan Chase said its cost to serve customers has come down 15% since 2014. Bank of America's has declined by $1 billion a quarter.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a></li></ul>Big bank executives made the rounds at financial conferences last week, and one theme came up over and over again: All the money they're saving as they see their massive investments in technology paying off. The big-four American banks have been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-a-breakdown-of-how-much-us-banks-are-spending-on-technology-2019-3">spending billions annually</a> on tech projects and upgrades - something that's become a competitive requirement in the industry.While the industry conversation is often dominated by the buzzy new capabilities being built - artificial-intelligence powered chatbots, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/banks-are-offloading-mortgages-to-startups-2019-4">automated mortgages</a>, sleek<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jpmorgan-chase-rolls-out-finn-for-ios-2018-7"> mobile app experiences</a> - this past week bank executives expounded on all the ways technology was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/citigroup-expects-to-save-500-million-thanks-to-tech-investments-2019-5">stripping out costs and creating net savings</a>.The chorus coming from the financial conference stages was in harmony: Yes, we're spending enormous sums on technology - but it's all worth it in the long run. JPMorgan Chase is the industry's biggest spender, dropping $10.8 billion on tech in 2018 and upping that budget to $11.5 billion this year. Like the rest of the banks, part of this budget goes toward investing in the future, and part of it is dedicated to running the ship more smoothly and efficiently.At a conference last week, JPMorgan president and consumer-banking chief Gordon Smith raved about the savings that were materializing within his division."In all of the years that I've been doing this, I've never seen the impact that technology is having on our business segment be so positive, be so sustainable and have such longevity," Smith said. "So I think the move to mobile and digital where we are investing exceptionally heavily is driving down our cost structure."See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-a-breakdown-of-how-much-us-banks-are-spending-on-technology-2019-3">Here's a breakdown of how much US banks are spending on technology</a> <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Shayanne Gal/Business Insider" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5cf5540111e20510dc527798-960/2018-tech-budget-large-us-banks-chart.png"></a>Shayanne Gal/Business Insider</div></div></div>JPMorgan's "pure cost to serve" its customers is down 15% from 2014, he added, explaining that replacing a quick customer service call that costs the company $4 with a mobile interaction that costs a penny creates "enormous operating leverage" over time. It was the same story from Bank of America, the second-largest tech spender at $10 billion in 2018. The company's investments in digital and mobile platforms have resulted in a surge of customers who no longer use costly paper transactions at all."Close to 50% of our clients are completely paperless, meaning, no paper, no statements, no checks, no cash, nothing, just completely paperless," Dean Athanasia, head of the firm's consumer bank, said early last week. "And as that number grows, it takes cost out of the system because it costs us to process check, it costs us to send them amount, it costs us to collect them."See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ubs-report-on-tech-spend-at-banks-says-more-ma-2019-3">A new study found JPMorgan and BofA are winning Wall Street's technological arms race - and smaller firms may have no choice but to merge to keep up</a>At a conference the next day, CEO Brian Moynihan gave some more concrete examples of how this pays off: Five years ago the bank handled some 175 million in deposited checks a quarter, now it processes 120 million. Millions more are deposited digitally, as well, rather than via tellers.That reduction is attributable in part to instant peer-to-peer payments platform Zelle, which handled $44 billion in Bank of America customer transactions in 2018, a figure Moynihan said is growing at an 80% to 90% clip this year. There's a direct correlation between increased Zelle payments and a reduction in paper checks, he said."When you start to see that, that's when you know you're having an impact," Moynihan said. There's also the millions of simple questions ("What's my routing number?" for instance) call centers handle each year that are instead being gobbled up by the AI-backed chatbot Erica, which has had more than 7 million customers use it since it launched last year, according to the bank. These digitization efforts have in part helped drive down the costs of serving consumers by $1 billion a quarter, helping pay for a wide-scale upgrades to ATMs and bank branches, Moynihan said. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bank-of-america-spends-10-billion-on-tech-and-hires-from-apple-disney-2018-9">A top Bank of America executive explains how the bank is luring top talent from companies like Apple and Disney to fuel its $10 billion digital ambitions</a>Citigroup CEO Michael Corbat said his firm <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/citigroup-expects-to-save-500-million-thanks-to-tech-investments-2019-5">reached a turning point last year</a> in which its $8 billion tech budget, part of which is used for streamlining its operations to "shrink the cost of running the bank," started to pay off in meaningful net savings."Last year, we crossed the inflection point of actually getting net savings on that," Corbat said, adding that this year they're expecting it to add up to some $500 million worth of savings.For investors worried about these mammoth tech budgets, the commentary from bank executives seems like an assurance that capital isn't being wasted on boondoggles. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-feeds-on-silicon-valley-to-fill-voracious-tech-appetite-2019-1">Top-flight tech is crucial to banks staying competitive.</a> The numbers are eye-popping, but banks are sending the message and providing evidence that the money is being well spent. "I think if you don't keep up in technology, you lose. I think it's just a matter of time," JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said on stage last week. "But to me, it's not, can you do it? You have to do it. And if you don't do it well, you will lose."Get the latest Bank of America stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/BAC-Quote"> here.</a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gary-shilling-legendary-economist-trade-war-outlook-says-us-will-win-2018-10">WATCH: The legendary economist who predicted the housing crisis says the US will win the trade war</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Wall Street's massive tech spend has reached an 'inflection point' as billions in investment are starting to pay off

I'm big into New Year's resolutions. I think it's because I love fresh starts and clean slates.
This year, I have a few resolutions. First and foremost: If it takes less than 5 minutes, do it now. 
It's surprising how many things we put off that could get done in 5 minutes. For example: calling to make a doctor's appointment. Or unloading the dishwasher. Or deleting junk email. The list goes on and on.
Turns out, most of the things that you procrastinate on aren't actually difficult or time-consuming - you just avoid doing them because they feel like a pain in the neck. But crossing a small to-do off your list can offer an outsized peace-of-mind reward because it clears mental clutter and makes you feel that you accomplished something. There's also some evidence that this approach sets you up to achieve bigger goals, too.
In the spirit of making good on financial resolutions both big and small, here are 10 ways you can get your finances on track in the next 5 minutes or less.
<ol start="1">
<li>Sign up for an IRA.</li>
<li>Unsubscribe from 3 online retailer emails.</li>
<li>Check the beneficiaries on your 401k to make sure they reflect your spouse or kids.</li>
<li>Set up automatic bill pay-no more late fees!</li>
<li>Take the first step in teaching your child about money. Snag this cool piggy bank that helps kids understand that money can be used for 4 things: saving, spending, donating and investing.</li>
<li>Sign up for paperless communications with your bank.</li>
<li>Change your light bulbs to CFL bulbs. They last 10 times as long, use 90% less energy, and can save you $40 over the lifetime of the bulb.</li>
<li>Sign up for a 529 account to start saving for your child's college education.</li>
<li>Remove 2 credit cards from your wallet, and put them in a drawer where you'll forget about them.</li>
<li>Create a Pinterest board called "My Retirement" and start pinning photos of what you want your retirement to look like. Refer back to the board when you're feeling down, to remember what you're saving up for.</li>
</ol>
The clock starts now. What can you do in the next 5 minutes?
Jessie Szymanski writes about personal finance for The Blog. 
<a href="http://etfdb.com/2014/5-minutes-youre-done-10-quick-money-tips/">Click here to read the original article on ETFdb.com.</a>
 
Read more posts on <a href="http://etfdb.com">ETF Database »</a><div class="feed-footer-wrapper"><div class="feed-footer">

 <h3>More from ETF Database:</h3>

 <ul>
 <li>
 <a href="http://feeds.etfdb.com/~r/etfdb/~3/Bm4Uz1l9cMc/" data-bi-base="http://etfdb.com">How to Use Fibonacci Extensions to Isolate Turning Points in ETFs</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 <a href="http://feeds.etfdb.com/~r/etfdb/~3/59t8TrYp1zY/" data-bi-base="http://etfdb.com">5 Minutes &amp; You're Done: 10 Quick Money Tips</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 <a href="http://feeds.etfdb.com/~r/etfdb/~3/pb9wm1H5wZw/" data-bi-base="http://etfdb.com">How to Beat the S&amp;P 500 with Style ETFs</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 <a href="http://feeds.etfdb.com/~r/etfdb/~3/Jf22FEROhnA/" data-bi-base="http://etfdb.com">ETF Insider: Sell On The Pop Prospects January 21st Edition</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 <a href="http://feeds.etfdb.com/~r/etfdb/~3/ZKWw8sfuglE/" data-bi-base="http://etfdb.com">ETF Insider: Buy On The Dip Prospects January 21st Edition</a>
 </li>
 </ul>
 </div></div>

10 Money Tips You Can Act On In 5 Minutes

<div class="image-container float_right click-to-enlarge" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><a title_source="National Guard" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/515b4d80ecad04816a000011-960/army-soldiers-veterans-formation.jpg"></a></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thenationalguard/5161482855/sizes/o/in/photostream/">National Guard</a></div>The Marine Corps recruiter never told me the biggest battle would be waged right here at home.
Whether it be to secure a disability pension for ills caused from <keyword id="6359526" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Military">military</keyword> service, or to cash in education benefits to go college, dealing with the Department of <keyword id="202626" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Veterans-Affairs">Veterans Affairs</keyword> is painful.
I am certainly not alone. There are <a href="http://cironline.org/blog/post/newly-released-data-reveal-extent-veterans-backlog-4324">more than 900,000 veterans</a> waiting in the V.A. backlog — a mostly paper-based system riddled with technology issues, long waits, and layers of bureaucracy. Since 2005, the case load has continued to worsen.
It's so bad that the wait time for claims at some offices has skyrocketed well over 600 days, <a href="http://cironline.org/reports/map-where-veterans-backlog-worst-3792">according to the Center for Investigative Reporting.</a>
And while the U.S. military was able to adapt to changes on the battlefield (like the adoption of <a href="http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-24fd.pdf">counterinsurgency doctrine</a> in 2006), the V.A. has not.
"This country is capable of drafting you, putting you in boot camp, teaching you to kill someone, and then putting you in a war zone within six months," writes Jim Strickland on the masthead of his <a href="http://www.vawatchdog.org/">VA Watchdog website</a>. "So, why can't they process a claim that fast?"
It's a pointed criticism of an agency that so far has failed to upgrade all of their systems to electronic, and is increasingly forced to <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/04/veterans-affairs-backlog-files-were-stacked-so-high-they-posed-a-safety-risk-to-va-staff-1.html">file away claims for years</a> at a time while sustained war produces more and more.
"It's sort of the old 'turn a P-51 into an F-18 while in flight' comparison," Brandon Friedman, former communications director for V.A., <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulSzoldra/status/313347784801669120">recently told me over Twitter</a>. "While VA is converting, the Department is still processing nearly 100,000 claims a month right now."
And Craig Newmark, founder of Craiglist and advisor to a <a href="http://craigconnects.org/military-families-and-veterans">number of veterans groups</a>, puts <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-newmark/veterans-disability-claim_b_2992824.html?utm_hp_ref=politics">it this way:</a>
The VA disability claims process has been like a car with the "check engine light" on for a decade or longer. Wasn't much of a problem until maybe around 2005, when the car filled up, and more people needed that ride. Vets needed a much bigger car back then, but that costs money, and no one in Washington stood up for that.
But more importantly than pointing out the problem, Newmark offers solutions. In a piece <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-newmark/veterans-disability-claim_b_2992824.html?utm_hp_ref=politics">published Tuesday in The Huffington Post</a>, he offers technology recommendations, cross-talk between federal agencies (Ironically, the V.A. and the Military health system <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jon-stewart-obama-va-backlog-republicans-daily-show-march-27-2013-3">don't transfer records</a> very well), and changing the culture inside the organization.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-newmark/veterans-disability-claim_b_2992824.html?utm_hp_ref=politics">Newmark writes:</a>
Turns out that VA has 56 regional offices, each running the old paper-based system, that's like 56 cars that are breaking down, some badly. The challenge is to replace each old car with new ones, while gracefully transferring riders to the new cars. In practice, that means getting a lot of paper scanned into the new systems, a lot of work. Key to that is getting everyone on board.
Whether that happens is anyone's guess, but they appear to be trying. <a href="http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2418">In a press release</a> on their official website, the VA says they have implemented a paperless system in 18 offices (as of Dec. 2012) with full deployment to the rest by the end of 2013.
That move goes along with VA Secretary Eric Shinseki's promise to end the backlog by 2015, although his pledge follows a <a href="http://www.stripes.com/blogs/the-ruptured-duck/the-ruptured-duck-1.160117/a-backlog-of-promises-on-va-claims-backlog-1.213593">'backlog of promises'</a> as Leo Shane points out at Stars and Stripes.
"It takes too long to make a claim, and the error rate is too high. The vets don't care about the process, they care about the outcome," Secretary Anthony Principi said in 2001.
Sadly, he's still right.

For US Troops, The Toughest Battle Is Waiting For Them Back At Home

If you thought tax troubles ended with the financial year, you are wrong. As per the Indian Income Tax Laws, you have to file your taxes before 31st July. Although traditionally most people avail the services of professionals like Chartered Accountant, it is relatively easy to do it online. Below is a quick guide on how to electronically submit your income tax returns. 
 
Step 1: Create a profile Just like any other online service, you have to simply follow the registration process and create your user log in. Visit the <keyword id="3520748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="income-tax-website">Income Tax website</keyword> <a href="http://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/">https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in</a> and click on ‘Register Yourself’, which will prompt you to fill your personal details. 
 
Step 2: Download Form 26AS 
You will be surprised how much of your salary or income details are already in the system thanks to your PAN number. Look for form 26AS that summarizes the TDS, Advance Tax, Self Assessment Tax paid in your name or against your PAN number. 
 
Step 3: Income Tax return form 
Next, download the Income Tax Return form. Individuals earning salary income / pension; or individuals having one house property income; or individuals having income from other sources (excluding lottery income and income from race horses) should download ITR1. However, if you have income from more than one house property, capital gains or are an ordinary resident having assets abroad or claiming tax treaty benefit, download ITR-2. Carefully fill the form with basic details; including your name, PAN, complete address, date of birth, email ID, mobile number, and residential status. You will also have to mention details of income earned and deductions claimed under various sections. You may refer to your Form 16 (summary of your income and deduction details as reported by your employer) and Form 26AS for income and deduction details. You should also add any other income or investment that you’ve not reported to your employer. Lastly enter the details of tax deducted by the employer and other deductors and self-assessment / advance tax paid, if any, and furnish your bank details for receiving any refund amount. 
 
Step 4: Confirm your details and calculate 
It is very important to click on the ‘Validate’ button on all the sheets to ensure that all the details have been recorded. The sheet will automatically prompt you to fill in the missing details. If you have filled all the fields, click on ‘Calculate Tax’ to see your total income tax for the financial year. If there is no additional payable tax, save the form as an .xml file. 
 
Step 5: Submit the income tax return 
Now log in to your income tax account and upload your tax return statement along with your name and assessment rear. You will receive an ITR-Verification form confirming your details and submission via email. Earlier you were expected to sign the ITR-V receipt and post it to the IT office in Bangalore for acknowledgement, if you did not have a digital signature. However, since last year the e-filing process has gone fully paperless. Simply link your Aadhar Card at the time of registration to avoid mailing your form this process. 
 
Step 6: Check the ITR-V receipt status 
On receipt of the signed ITR-V, the Income Tax Department will send an email acknowledging the receipt of ITR-V to the e-mail ID mentioned in the tax return. You will also receive an SMS on your mobile number acknowledging the receipt of tax return. 
 
This article was brought to you by <a href="http://www.bigdecisions.com/tax-planning?utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=howtofiletaxesonline">Big Decisions</a> 
 
<a href="http://www.taxchopper2001.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Tax-Return.jpg">Image source</a>

File your taxes online in six easy steps

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Lisa Niver is a travel expert, author, and podcaster who's explored 102 countries on six continents.</li><li>She has credit cards with all the major airlines to maximize points and get free bags.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lisa Niver, a 55-year-old travel expert from Los Angeles. The following has been edited for length and clarity.In the 1990s, I began <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-work-on-cruise-ship-strange-job-great-perks-2023-5">working on cruise ships</a>, starting as a youth-activities manager and working my way up to senior assistant cruise director in seven years.After the cruise line I worked for went bankrupt, I worked as a teacher and started a travel blog, then moved into content creation and freelance journalism.Today, I'm an <a target="_blank" href="https://lisaniver.com/about/">award-winning travel expert</a> and author who's explored 102 countries on six continents.I fly up to six times every month. These are some of my tips for traveling cheaply and quickly.<h2>1. Don't be tempted by skiplagging</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-tried-skiplagging-nightmare-save-money-on-flight-tickets-2023-6">Skiplagging</a>, or hidden city ticketing, is when a traveler buys a multi-leg ticket with a connection to their destination city. Sometimes, this is cheaper than a direct fare to that city, so they can disembark at the layover stop.If you get caught, you can be blacklisted from the airline. And remember: You're checking in with ID, so you're easily identifiable.Many airlines have cut services in recent years, so getting banned from a major airline that flies to your city would be a huge problem. It's not worth the gamble for relatively small savings.<h2>2. Consider two one-way tickets instead of a round-trip ticket</h2>I generally buy tickets with different carriers, depending on which one has the best deal. I don't really care who I fly with, but I most often fly United, American, and Delta, and I use Southwest and Alaska for domestic travel.My main consideration when booking flights is my schedule. I search for the best route and take whichever carrier can get me there in the most direct manner.<h2>3. Use flight-booking websites to check prices, then go directly to the airline to book</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.kiwi.com/en/">Kiwi.com</a> is my favorite. I look at the different routes and options and work out what's best for me, then go to the airline's website to book. This way I can avoid fees and go directly to the airline in the event of any changes.While price is important, I try to fly direct to the destination to avoid layover waits and expenses. I also avoid flying into a city at rush hour, so I don't get caught in traffic, and I don't like landing at a time that means I'll have to travel when it's dark.<h2>4. Get a credit card with the major airlines</h2>At any given time, I usually have at least four airline cards. That way, I get airline miles and take a free bag.I love United Business and the upgrade at check-in if available. I have the Delta Amex and credit cards with American, United, Alaska, and sometimes Southwest.Every time they offer me more miles, I switch to a new credit card, but it's important to be organized and pay off the balances.My friends and family who have high-level status with Delta are upset about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-overhauls-skymiles-program-medallion-qulifying-dollars-skyclub-frequent-flyer-2023-9">the change in levels for loyalty members and the spending required</a>. I'm not surprised because there have been so many issues with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-sky-club-access-employees-barred-without-ticket-credit-card-2023-1">the clubs being too full and having lines</a>.I love the Private Suite lounges at the Los Angeles and Atlanta airports and the Priority Pass membership. The Amex Centurion lounges are creating more choices as well; its Miami lounge is incredible.<h2>5. Generally, booking two weeks or more in advance gets you the best deals</h2>I try my best to plan in advance, and I try not to fly on school holidays. Flights at these times are usually more packed.I try to book my seat ahead of time, too. If I can help a family sit together, I'll move, but it's usually a pain for everyone.I know that some people believe in booking flights on Tuesdays or at night, but I just focus on getting the most direct flight at the best price.<h2>6. Bring your own food</h2>Being hangry on a plane ruins the whole flight experience. Some airlines are reducing their food options, and even when there are food options available for purchase, they can be pricey.I bring so many snacks that I must look like a toddler. I usually bring a sandwich, a sweet snack, a savory snack, and then something extra. I'd rather arrive with too much food than be hungry on the plane.<h2>7. Being organized helps you get through security more quickly</h2>The person in front of me always seems to have forgotten that they have water in their bottle. Mistakes like that mean you have to wait to get your bags checked.I see so many men emptying their pockets to go through security. That's asking to lose things or to forget something and have to go through security again.I make sure that my personal bag has a zipper. That way, I can quickly and easily put away my phone, ticket, passport, and anything else I need without them getting lost.<h2>8. TSA PreCheck and Clear are the best investments I've made in my traveling life</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tsa-precheck-worth-the-investment-from-casual-traveler-2023-7">TSA PreCheck</a> costs $78 for five years while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tried-clear-tsa-precheck-and-global-entry-2023-6">Clear</a> costs $189 a year. I used to have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-approved-for-global-entry-quickly-2023-6">Global Entry</a>, which cost a one-time $100 fee, but have since moved to Clear.I've always loved Global Entry and I love TSA PreCheck, but the new hack that I love even more at LAX is Clear. Clear plus TSA PreCheck has worked great for me.Clear uses biometric data for identification, allowing you to skip the line to have your photo ID checked. Once you're through, you can go to a TSA PreCheck lane to get ahead of other passengers through security. It also means you don't have to take your shoes off, and you can leave liquids and electronics in your bag.You pay for airports in time or money, and I'm happy to pay money for anything that lets me go through the airport faster with less drama. For someone like me who flies solo regularly, it's priceless.<h2>9. Airports are now essentially paperless, so be prepared</h2>WiFi connectivity at airports can still be an issue, so after I've checked in via the airline app, I'll take a screenshot of my ticket.I also always bring a portable charger so my phone never runs out of battery. This is especially important for parents with kids who use their devices. There's nothing worse than getting to an airport to book an Uber or call your hotel, only to realize your phone is dead.I've also learned the hard way that you need to remember to charge your charger before you get on a flight.

9 tips to fly cheaper and get through airport security faster

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Currently, my money in short-term savings is held with my local bank, where I opened an account when I was 12.</li><li>It's far from a rewarding place to keep my hard-earned cash, but I've been doing it for so long that it's hard to change my routine.</li><li>Here are five <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/high-yield-savings">high-yield savings accounts</a> I am considering opening and switching to instead.</li></ul>Up until this point in my life, I've been using the same bank account that my parents helped me open in middle school and the Chase bank account I opened while I was in college because my regional bank wasn't in my college town.I've been aware for quite some time that I'm leaving money on the table by sticking with the accounts I have, but this change requires research, acting on that research, and a change in my banking route. However, traditional savings accounts like mine usually offer .01% to .1% interest, and high-yield savings accounts accounts offer up to 200 times that, with variable APYs up to 2.25% or sometimes even higher. The move could very well be worth it.I want a savings account with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-i-choose-a-high-yield-savings-account-more-interest-2019-6">at least three things</a>: high interest rates, no fees, and ease of use.I also want to make sure my money is in safe hands, so I've looked for whether the bank supports key security features like two-factor authentication, and double checked that the account is insured with either the FDIC (for banks) or NCUA (for credit unions).Instead of doing this all behind the scenes, I'm sharing with you the account options I determined were best after my research, as well as what features are important to me. These are the top five savings accounts I found that I am considering switching to.<h2>Ally Bank</h2>Ally Bank is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.es/financial-planners-ally-best-high-yield-savings-2019-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">a favorite of financial planners</a>, and for good reason: It's an online-only bank that offers a 2.2% APY and 24/7 customer service, with no monthly fees or minimum balance. Ally was named the <a href="https://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/saving/T005-S002-best-internet-banks-2018/index.html">best online bank</a> last year by Kiplinger, and ranked second in <a href="https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2019-direct-banking-satisfaction-study">J.D. Power's "Direct Banking Satisfaction Study"</a> (the No. 1 bank, Charles Schwab, only offers 0.5% APY for savings).Ally also offers an interest checking account, but it only earns 0.1% APY on balances under $15,000 - so if you're looking for a one-stop shop for all your bank accounts, you may want to look elsewhere.<h2>American Express</h2>American Express may be best known for credit cards and travel services, but it has also been offering high-yield savings accounts for years. With 2.10% APY, no monthly fees or account minimums, and American Express' legendary customer support, opening a savings account with AmEx is a strong consideration. It also offers competitive rates on certificates of deposit. You will definitely need another bank for checking though, since AmEx doesn't offer checking accounts.One thing to be aware of is that American Express Personal Savings accounts are completely separate from other American Express products - they're different websites, so you'll have to create a new account even if you already have an American Express card, and transactions like paying an American Express credit card bill from your savings account will have to be set up manually just like any other bank.<h2>Discover Bank</h2>Like American Express, most people know Discover for its credit cards, but it also offers some great bank accounts.Discover's Online Savings Account offers 2.10% APY with no minimum deposit, no monthly fees, and no minimum balance. It's super transparent about the fees they do charge - there aren't many - and will even waive your first fee every year if you get charged for insufficient funds or need to stop a payment. Its online banking and mobile app are both easy to use, and it also offers a no-fee checking account that earns 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases every month.<h2>Alliant Credit Union</h2>Alliant is a Chicago-based credit union. Its High-Rate Savings account earns 2.10% APY - not the highest on this list, but it raised its interest rates 10 times in 2018 - and even its High-Interest Checking account offers 0.65% APY (as long as you sign up for paperless statements and make one deposit a month). There are no monthly fees or minimum balances, and customer service is available 24/7.There's a couple important things to know about credit unions. For one, they're not-for-profit cooperatives owned by their members - that means their main responsibility is your financial success. They also have membership requirements, but don't worry: Alliant partners with many large and small employers and associations, or you can become eligible by making a $5 donation to its partner charity, Foster Care 2 Success.<h2>Synchrony Bank High-Yield Savings</h2>You might not have heard of Synchrony Financial, but it has been in business for over 80 years and provides credit cards for over 100 major brands like Amazon, PayPal, Sam's Club, and Cathay Pacific Airlines.Synchrony offers one of the highest interest rates on the market, with 2.25% APY, and has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. It also provides an ATM card for emergencies, which even allows you to deposit cash and checks at certain ATMs on the Plus and ACCEL networks, and will waive up to $5 in ATM fees every month.The main downside of Synchrony is that while it offers a fairly easy-to-use website, for some reason there's no mobile app. However, the mobile website does offer all the features you'd expect from an app, including mobile check deposit and contacting customer service.<h2>Bottom Line</h2>These are the accounts that might work for me. However, if you're considering a move, you might want to think about what's most important to you. Do you want a bank with both savings and checking accounts, so you can move money easily between them? Or would it be better to keep your savings somewhere else, so it's easier to resist the temptation to make a withdrawal?The most important thing is to start saving money somewhere - and preferably to do it in a high yield savings account like one of these.Need a better place to keep your money? Consider these offers from our partners:Personal Finance Insider offers tools and calculators to help you make smart decisions with your money. We do not give investment advice or encourage you to buy or sell stocks or other financial products. What you decide to do with your money is up to you. If you take action based on one of the recommendations listed in the calculator, we get a small share of the revenue from our commerce partners.<div></div><div><div class="myFinance-widget" data-widget-id="d6b22e09-6f1e-436e-ac44-22538f0b4c84" data-campaign="bi-amex-afl"></div></div><div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gamestop-video-games-gaming-survive-digital-future-2019-5">Now that Google and Nintendo offer digital video games, GameStop could have the same fate as Blockbuster</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

I've had the same bank account since age 12. After a ton of research, I've found 5 places I could move it to earn up to 200 times more

martin-dm/Getty Images<ul class="summary-list"><li>Bank customers want an easy <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/online-banking-how-to-choose-online-bank">online banking</a> experience, good customer service, and low fees. Umpqua Bank, out of Oregon, promises all three.</li><li>Its apps and website are solid and easy to use, but customers complain that bank branches are inefficient and employees aren't providing the promised "people first" experience.</li><li>Overall, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/umpqua-bank-named-oregon-s-most-admired-financial-services-company-1028752487">Umpqua Bank</a> is worth checking out if you're looking for a free <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-bank-for-checking-account">checking account</a> that's easy to access online, but it might not be the right bank for everyone.</li><li><a href="https://umpqua-bank.sjv.io/1YYED" rel="nofollow">Learn more about Umpqua Bank's checking accounts »</a></li></ul>When it comes to banks, customers typically have one of two complaints: My bank is convenient but has poor customer service, or my local bank has great customer service but doesn't offer enough services/isn't convenient to use online.That isn't just anecdotal either. In a survey of 3,000 individuals with bank accounts, <a href="https://arca.com/resources/blog/this-bank-or-that-bank-what-drives-todays-consumers">Credio found</a> that access to mobile and online tools is the number one reason for customer satisfaction (at 31%), and customer support is the second, at 29%. In other words, good customer service and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/online-banking-how-to-choose-online-bank">modern online conveniences</a> combine for 60% of total bank satisfaction. High fees are one of the biggest pain points for bank customers - FICO says they're the number one reason millennials are <a href="https://www.fico.com/en/newsroom/fico-survey-millennials-2-to-3-times-more-likely-to-switch-banks-08-11-2016">two to three times more likely</a> to switch banks than previous generations. The result? Some banks have started to wise up and adapt. To be competitive, you have to offer easy online and mobile tools and great customer service - at a low price. That's why <a href="https://umpqua-bank.sjv.io/1YYED" rel="nofollow">Umpqua Bank</a> caught our attention. <h2>It's a river in Oregon. It's also a 'people first' bank.</h2>Hailing from near the South Umpqua River in Canyonville, Oregon, <a href="https://umpqua-bank.sjv.io/1YYED" rel="nofollow">Umpqua Bank</a> has staked its reputation on customer service, claiming associates will never forget your name and take your <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/do-i-need-a-financial-planner-money-help">personal financial goals</a> into account. It also promises "easy access and mobile tools," and touts its strength in pairing "financial expertise with a passion for getting to know you as an individual." Practically speaking, it offers three different tiers of checking accounts designed to limit your monthly maintenance fees based on your desired account balance. <h2>Fees</h2>Umpqua offers three tiers of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-bank-for-checking-account">checking accounts</a>, <a href="https://umpqua-bank.sjv.io/1YYED" rel="nofollow">Embark, Access, and Attain</a>. Each is priced based on minimum balance requirements, so you can avoid paying maintenance fees by choosing the right account for your needs.<ul><li>Embark Checking. The lowest tier has a $0 minimum balance (though you'll need at least $25 to open an account) and offers $10 in ATM fee rebates when carrying a balance of $2,500 or more. Paper statements are $3 a month for individuals under age 62; the account is $0 if you go paperless. Embark comes with one savings account.</li><li>Access Checking. The next tier has either a monthly maintenance fee of $5, or a $0 fee if you make 10 debit card transactions or more per month, a direct deposit of $500 or more once a month, or a mobile deposit of $250 a month. Four ATM fee rebates a month are also included, as well as three savings or money market accounts. Paper statement fees apply.</li><li>Attain Checking. The highest tier requires either a $15,000 minimum daily balance, or a $25,000 total balance to avoid the monthly $20 fee. It offers complimentary incoming wire transfers and no international processing fees, and it comes with five savings or money market accounts. No statement fee. </li></ul>The tiers are great at granting flexibility to customers. However, it begs the question: Why are fees even needed in the first place? It wasn't long ago people were freaking out about Bank of America <a href="http://time.com/money/5113600/bank-of-america-free-checking-account/">eliminating its free checking account</a>. That being said, Umpqua's low fees and fee waivers make it very competitive in a landscape that sees many checking basic accounts charge <a href="https://www.valuepenguin.com/banking/checking-account-fees">$5 to $12 in monthly fees</a>, or have average balance requirements of $1,500 or more. For individuals who have a low balance and want free checking, Umpqua's offerings are affordable. On the flipside, Umpqua does have a host of <a href="https://www.umpquabank.com/globalassets/media/documents/umpqua_bank_other_account_services.pdf">other fees</a> for basic services. Cashing checks, check collection, and cashier's checks all come with a price tag.Plus, while Umpqua does provide ATM fee rebates, it still charges customers a $2.50 fee for withdrawing from a non-Umpqua ATM. For those confused, many banks - including Umpqua - charge a fee for using a non-bank ATM, which is separate from the fee charged by the operator of the ATM (the one you agree to on the screen).<h2>Mobile and online tools</h2>Umpqua's apps are on point. Its <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/umpqua-bank-mobile-banking/id953668739?mt=8">mobile banking app</a> has 4.3 stars on iTunes, and has features like Touch ID, transferring money, paying bills, and depositing checks. It has other apps, too, such as <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/umpqua-go-to/id1375092503?mt=8">Umpqua Go-To</a>, which allows you to text your questions to a human financial expert, and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/umpqua-pay/id1370183037?mt=8">Umpqua Pay</a>, which allows you to freeze your debit card from your phone. Umpqua also has text banking, which allows you to check your balance or <a href="https://www.umpquabank.com/help-center/text-banking/">transfer between accounts</a> via text messages. Online banking is fairly easy with Umpqua - the company actively encourages users to bank online by charging for paper statements. Its online portal is serviceable - no bells and whistles, but very simple and solid. <h2>Customer service</h2>Based on <a href="https://wallethub.com/profile/umpqua-bank-13007652i">online reviews</a>, Umpqua gets <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/umpqua-bank-portland-9">mixed feedback</a> on customer service. If we are to take online customer reviews at face value, it seems Umpqua is only good if not average in customer service.Granted, people who post online reviews might have their own biases, but the complaints appear to be the same: Umpqua has gotten more corporate in recent years, and its customer service line has been hard to access and not always helpful. It also appears to be very slow at processing physical paperwork. Reviews do suggest that Umpqua Go-To has been very well received, and both the associates as well as the developers have been responsive to feedback. Of all the reviews, the ones related to Umpqua's virtual products were the strongest. <h2>Verdict</h2><a href="https://umpqua-bank.sjv.io/1YYED" rel="nofollow">Umpqua Bank</a> is great if you're looking for a no-frills bank where you can have a free checking account for a very low balance. It's modern and provides great mobile and online tools, and is easy to navigate. However, Umpqua has its shortcomings, including additional fees for basic services, a <a href="https://smartasset.com/checking-account/umpqua-bank-banking-review">low interest rate on savings accounts</a>, and an apparent under delivery on its promise of exceptional customer service. <h3><a href="https://umpqua-bank.sjv.io/1YYED" rel="nofollow">Open a free checking account with Umpqua Bank today »</a></h3><ul class="read-more-links"><li>More <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yourmoney">personal finance</a> coverage</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-open-high-yield-savings-account-now-interest-rates-down">4 reasons to open a high-yield savings account while interest rates are down </a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-open-wealthfront-cash-account-savings">It took less than 10 minutes to open a high-yield cash account with Wealthfront and earn more on my savings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-buy-a-house-with-no-money-down-home-loans">How to buy a house with no money down </a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-to-save-money-in-high-yield-savings">When to save money in high-yield savings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-rewards-credit-cards">Best rewards credit cards</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reasons-to-get-life-insurance-you-havent-thought-of-yet">7 reasons you may need life insurance, even if you think you don't</a></li></ul> Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Personal Finance Insider team. We occasionally highlight financial products and services that can help you make smarter decisions with your money. We do not give investment advice or encourage you to adopt a certain investment strategy. What you decide to do with your money is up to you. If you take action based on one of our recommendations, we get a small share of the revenue from our commerce partners. This does not influence whether we feature a financial product or service. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-photos-apple-icloud-iphone-storage-space-2018-12">I switched to Google Photos after using iCloud for 5 years and I'm never going back</a></h3>

Umpqua Bank promises a 'people first' customer experience, but it's actually better online than in person

WHEN <keyword id="110656" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="estonia">Estonia</keyword> regained its independence in 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, less than half its population had a telephone line and its only independent link to the outside world was a Finnish mobile phone concealed in the foreign minister's garden. Two decades later, it is a world leader in <keyword id="6355118" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="technology">technology</keyword>. Estonian geeks developed the code behind Skype, Hotmail and Kazaa (an early file-sharing network). In 2007 it became the first country to allow online voting in a general election. It has among the world’s <a href="http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_for_business/?doc=52217">zippiest broadband speeds</a> and holds the <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2013/07/estonias-technology-cluster">record for start-ups per person</a>. Its 1.3m citizens pay for parking spaces with their mobile phones and have their health records stored in the digital cloud. Filing an annual tax return online, <a href="http://e-estonia.com/components/e-tax">as 95% of Estonians do</a>, takes about five minutes. How did the smallest Baltic state develop such a strong tech culture?
The foundation was laid in 1992 when Mart Laar, Estonia’s prime minister at the time,<a href="http://www.economist.com/node/319371?zid=307&amp;ah=5e80419d1bc9821ebe173f4f0f060a07">defibrillated the flat-lining economy</a>. In less than two years his young government (average age: 35) gave Estonia a flat income-tax, free trade, sound money and privatisation. New businesses could be registered smoothly and without delays, an important spur for geeks lying in wait. Feeble infrastructure, a legacy of the Soviet era, meant that the political class began with a clean sheet. When Finland decided to upgrade to digital phone connections, it offered its archaic 1970s analogue telephone-exchange to Estonia for free. Estonia declined the proposal and built a digital system of its own. Similarly, the country went from having no land registry to creating a paperless one. “We just skipped certain things…Mosaic [the first popular web browser] had just come out and everyone was on a level playing field,” recalls Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the president. Not saddled with legacy technology, the country's young ministers put their faith in the internet.
A nationwide project to equip classrooms with computers followed and by 1998 all schools were online. In 2000, when the government declared internet access to be a human right, the web spread into the boondocks. Free Wi-Fi became commonplace. Rubber stamps, carbon paper and long queues gave way to “e-government”. The private sector followed: the sale of Skype to eBay in 2005, for $2.6 billion, created a new class of Estonian investors, who made tens of millions of euros from their shareholdings—and have been putting their experience, and their windfalls, to good use. Today Tehnopol, a business hub in Tallinn, the perky capital, houses more than 150 tech companies. Given the country’s tiny domestic market, start-ups have been forced to think global, says Taavet Hinrikus, Skype’s first employee and co-founder of <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2013/01/international-money-transfers">TransferWise, a peer-to-peer money-transfer service</a> whose customers are spread across Europe and America. According to the World Bank, <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2012/01/start-ups-estonia">over 14,000 new companies registered in Estonia in 2011</a>, 40% more than during the same period in 2008. High-tech industries now account for about 15% of GDP.
How can other countries—that lack Estonia's small size and its clean sheet—follow its example? “It’s sort of obnoxious to say, ‘Do what we did’,” says Mr Ilves. But he submits that Estonia’s success is not so much about ditching legacy technology as it is about shedding “legacy thinking”. Replicating a paper-based tax-filing procedure on a computer, for instance, is no good; having such forms pre-filled so that the taxpayer has only to check the calculations has made the system a success. Education is important, too: last year, in a public-private partnership, a programme called ProgeTiiger (“Programming Tiger”) was announced, to teach five-year-olds the basics of coding. “In the 80s every boy in high-school wanted to be a rock star,” says Mr Hinrikus. “Now everybody in high-school wants to be an entrepreneur.”

How Tiny Estonia Became A Leader In Technology

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years, you have surely heard of <keyword id="6354947" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bitcoin">Bitcoin</keyword>s and cryptocurrencies. The recent interest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether has brought the underlying technology behind them – namely blockchain – into the limelight. It is one of the hottest topics in the FinTech industry and currently being fervently discussed in the blogosphere. So, what is blockchain technology? Blockchain can be simply described as a decentralised ledger which is immutable. This means that once a record has been entered into the ledger, it cannot be erased or altered. It is a distributed list of digital records or transactions that are verified and monitored by a myriad of users simultaneously and almost instantaneously. Each record is referred to as a “block” and typically contains data linking it to the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. Since data recorded on a blockchain is not on any single centralized system, but exists on and verified by many different sources, it is theoretically incorruptible. This makes this technology useful for audit trails, keeping track of financial transactions and providing accountability and proof of who did what transaction. Another benefit of blockchain and distributed ledger technology is that it allows firms to code “Smart Contracts”, contracts that can self-execute parts of the transaction as long as certain criteria have been fulfilled. For example, loans could be disbursed automatically as long as the customer possesses the required credit scores. But is the hype surrounding blockchain truly worth major infrastructure changes or is it merely a technological mirage? One of the strongest arguments for using blockchain in the FinTech industry is that it can dramatically accelerate loan origination process and substantially reduce costs. A typical mortgage transaction requires a large number of intermediaries – legal, financial, real-estate – to get involved on behalf of the buyer, seller and lender. Every additional intermediary results in additional costs and time to the transaction. Depending on which part of the world you are in, processing times can range from 40 to 90 working days or more! Also, real estate registry records are still paper-based and antiquated, and <a href="https://www.pwc.com/us/en/financial-services/publications/viewpoints/assets/qa-what-is-blockchain.pdf" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">blockchain technology could digitise and accelerate the entire process and hypothetically make it more secure</a> since the data is not stored in one place, but on a distributed ledger shared and verified by multiple parties. Another value proposition of blockchain technology is security since records entered into the ledger cannot be altered and need to be verified by every party involved, fraud is theoretically impossible. <keyword id="6005770" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="john-lim">John Lim</keyword>, CTO of <a href="http://www.endeavormalaysia.org/juris-technologies-is-malaysias-newest-endeavor-entrepreneur/" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Juris Technologies</a> believes the hype surrounding blockchain is a bit overblown. "Blockchain enthusiasts assume that a loan origination process is an entirely manual approach between lawyers, evaluators and customers. Blockchain can reduce costs by making transactions electronic and paperless and supposedly removing intermediaries. But the people who are going to install the blockchain infrastructure are going to be the new intermediaries, and the cost of implementing this technology is not a small sum as well. Using blockchain does not in itself prevent fraud. The <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/mt-gox-ceo-mark-karpeles-arrested-in-japan/" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Mt Gox</a> incident from 2014, where USD 450 million in BitCoin was defrauded; proves that human checks are still required at process-end-points (disbursement). Say person A sends money to person B, meanwhile mister hacker defrauds and modifies the network and sends a message to person A "transaction failed". Person A sends the money again, and the second batch is received by mister hacker. There is always a chance that a hacker may obtain access to an authorised personnel's compromised computer and breach the system. To expect that blockchain and distributed ledger is fraud-proof is naïve. However, thanks to blockchain we now have immutable records of the point at which the system was breached so we can detect and trace the roots of the fraud faster.” “While there is no doubt that blockchain technology is useful for cryptocurrencies; for smart contracts that can automatically disburse payment, implementing blockchain infrastructure can prove problematic. You need to have buy-in from different parties and intermediaries in mortgage loan origination, and for each party, it means something different. This integration won't be cheap. Also at any point in the process paper trails are required, like identity cards, passports or land deeds; the blockchain flow will be interrupted by the need to verify a document. Smart contracts can only fly if these documents are fully converted into legally binding electronic documents. The <keyword id="8695" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Malaysia">Malaysia</keyword>n Digital Signature Act was legislated in 1997; it's been 20 years, and I don’t see any largescale usage of digital signatures in Malaysia or anywhere in the Indian subcontinent. BlockChain has its uses in loan origination, but the improvements I see are incremental until digital signatures become widely adopted,” said John Lim. (The author of this article is Ishtiaque Hossain. Author of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Wallowing-Dhaka-Ishtiaque-Hossain-ebook/dp/B011F2UE3Y?ie=UTF8&amp;*Version*=1&amp;*entries*=0">Wallowing in Dhaka</a> , Ishtiaque is a writer from <keyword id="6381819" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dhaka">Dhaka</keyword>, Bangladesh currently working in the Malaysian FinTech industry. The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Business Insider India.)

Blockchain Technology can be a gamechanger in the FinTech industry

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11896285" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="robinhood" source="Orion">Robinhood</keyword> bills itself as a free platform to buy, sell, and trade investments.</li><li id="recirc">But users may pay various fees, and Robinhood passes on some third-party costs to customers.</li><li>It's possible to avoid some of these costs, but not all.</li></ul>Trying your hand at investing has become easier than ever, thanks to the emergence of companies that have made it more accessible. All it takes is for you to download the app of your choice, set up your account, fund it, and then you're on your way to trading.One of the most popular options out there right now is Robinhood, which is known for fee-free trading. But there are actually some fees associated with using the app.<h2>The Robinhood app</h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/robinhood-investing-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robinhood</a> was founded in 2013 and grew to one of the most popular services among young investors by 2021, with more than 18 million users and $80 billion in assets. The Robinhood app officially launched in 2015 with a simple interface and account management tools that allow you to check your real-time account balance, read your messages, monitor security prices, and check the latest investing news.You can download the Robinhood app but will need to open a brokerage account, go through the security steps, and fund your account to get full use out of the app. <h2>How does Robinhood make money? </h2>Robinhood markets itself as a "free" app because users can set up a free account with no minimum investment. Users won't pay annual fees, inactivity fees, ACH transfer fees, commission fees, and other costs common to some other brokerage firms. Quick tip: Fees might seem small, but investors try to avoid extra costs because they seriously add up over time. According to an <a href="https://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ib_fees_expenses.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">example</a> provided by the SEC, a 1% annual fee could lower a portfolio's value by $30,000 over 20 years compared to a 0.25% fee, assuming a 4% annual return. Robinhood doesn't charge an annual fee, but it might charge you in other ways.Instead of charging commissions, Robinhood makes money through a process called payment for order flow. When a user makes a trade, Robinhood sends that trade to a third party that places many large orders at once for a slight advantage. The larger company then compensates Robinhood. The brokerage also generates income from interest on securities and margin loans and with Robinhood Gold, a premium subscription service that charges a flat monthly fee. Finally, Robinhood also charges several fees for certain services and transactions, and it may pass on third-party costs to its customers. To avoid surprises when using the app, it's good practice to learn when you might pay extra.<h3>1. Robinhood Gold </h3>Robinhood Gold is a premium feature that allows eligible users to trade on margin, which means you borrow money from the platform to buy securities. Gold members also have access to Morningstar professional research reports and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-nasdaq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nasdaq</a> market data. You can try the service for 30 days for free and then upgrade for a flat $5 monthly fee. There's also a 2.5% yearly interest fee on any amount you borrow over $1,000, and you'll need at least $2,000 in your portfolio to keep the margin account.Quick tip: With <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-margin-trading-how-it-works" target="_blank" rel="noopener">margin trading</a>, you borrow money from your brokerage to buy stocks and other securities. This allows you to invest more than you normally would because you're not limited to the amount of cash you have on hand. But it could also amplify your losses, so consider your risks before taking this step. It might be a good move for an experienced investor. <h3>2. Transfer fees</h3>Robinhood typically doesn't charge fees associated with moving your money - with two exceptions: <ul><li>Outgoing ACATS fee: If you decide to move money from your Robinhood account to a competing brokerage firm, the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS) facilitates that process. You'll pay $75 for each outgoing transfer. But it's still free to sell your investments and transfer the money to your own bank account.</li><li>Domestic overnight check delivery fee: Robinhood can send a check on your behalf to US-based businesses and individuals for free, but you'll pay $20 if you need the check sent overnight. </li></ul><h3>3. Regulatory trading fees</h3>Robinhood is registered with the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/finra" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Financial Industry Regulatory Authority</a> (FINRA), a private firm that oversees US-based broker-dealer firms. To support some of the costs Robinhood pays toward industry regulations, the brokerage passes on certain fees to its customers. These include: <ul><li>Regulatory trading fee: Robinhood customers pay $5.10 per $1 million of principal when they make sales, rounded up to the nearest penny. Sales with a value of up to $500 are excluded from the fee.</li><li>Trading activity fee (TAF): Robinhood also passes a trading activity fee to customers when they sell more than 50 shares of stock. The fee is $0.000119 per share on equity sells and $0.002 per contract on options sells, rounded up to the nearest penny. There's a limit of $5.95 on the fee, based on how the order is executed. </li></ul><h3>4. Service fees</h3>Robinhood also charges customers for some of the conveniences you can request, such as:<ul><li>Paper statements: $5 per month to receive a physical copy of your purchase statement in the mail</li><li>Paper confirms: $2 for every paper confirmation, which is a document that reports the details of a trade completed through your account.</li><li>Domestic overnight mail: $20 when you ask Robinhood to mail something overnight in the US</li><li>International overnight mail: $50 when you ask Robinhood to mail something overnight to someone in another country</li></ul><h3>5. Potential fees</h3>Robinhood might not charge you for certain transactions and services, but third parties might take their share. These will be passed on to your brokerage account and may include:<ul><li>American depositary receipts: American depositary receipts (ADRs) are certificates representing foreign stocks that trade on American exchanges. The banks issuing these certificates may charge custodial fees that typically range from $0.01 to $0.03 per share. </li><li>Returned check, ACH, wire &amp; recall/stop payments: Robinhood won't charge a fee to handle returned checks or stop-payment requests. But the originating, intermediary, or recipient bank may charge a wire transfer reversal fee.</li><li>Foreign transaction fees: Mastercard may charge a currency conversion fee if you use your Robinhood debit card to make foreign transactions in US dollars.</li><li>Out-of-network ATM fees: It's free to use ATMs within Robinhood's network, but an out-of-network ATM provider may charge a fee that Robinhood will directly pass on to you. </li><li>Merchant-imposed fees: Some merchants may charge a fee when you use a debit card or make transactions under a minimum threshold. </li></ul><h2>How to minimize Robinhood fees </h2>When you open a Robinhood account, you're already avoiding fees that some other brokerages charge. But if you want to minimize some of the other costs of using Robinhood, you can:<ul><li>Avoid the upgrade: Consider using the free account instead of upgrading to Gold service.</li><li>Research fees before buying: Before placing a trade or requesting any services, visit Robinhood's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Frobinhood.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fsupport%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">support page</a> and look for information about fees and when they apply. </li><li>Search for in-network ATMs: You can withdraw cash from your Robinhood account for free using a debit card at participating stores and at in-network ATMs. Tap the "Find ATMs" button in your Robinhood app to find the nearest withdrawal locations. </li><li>Check out the foreign stock: Before buying shares from a foreign company, find information about potential fees from the bank that issues the American depositary receipt.</li><li>Go paperless: Instead of paying for paper monthly statements and confirmations, choose the electronic versions. </li><li>Transfer to your own bank account: Robinhood charges you a fee when transferring money to a competing brokerage, but not to your own bank account. If you need to pull money out of your Robinhood account, consider moving it to your bank first and then investing elsewhere.</li></ul><h2>The financial takeaway</h2>If you use Robinhood, you won't pay annual fees, commission fees, inactivity fees, and fees for moving money to your bank account. But you'll pay a $5 monthly fee to upgrade to a Gold account and various service fees for things like requesting a paper statement. The brokerage will also pass on third-party costs, such as regulatory fees and out-of-network ATM fees, to you. It's possible to avoid some of these costs, but you'll need to understand when they may apply. <a data-type="60ad76c4e5224e47165fbabb">Is Robinhood safe? Experts weigh in on using the commission-free investing app</a><a data-type="5c9108c901df722d966ff305">A comprehensive guide to investing in stocks for beginners</a><a data-type="603d0928507cd77b043e1cac">How many stocks should you own in your portfolio? Why there's no single 'right' answer</a><a data-type="602bff0506adf848107b0559">What are the safest investments? 7 low-risk places to put your money - and what makes them so</a>

You Searched For "paperless check in" and got 13 results

DigiYatra app will use facial recognition to make airport check-ins faster - here’s how to use it

Shradha Aneja

Wipro, ICAD to create India's first digital airport — here are its features

Vaamanaa Sethi

The Indian government is trying to make airline boarding passes obsolete

BI India Bureau

Wall Street's massive tech spend has reached an 'inflection point' as billions in investment are starting to pay off

Alex Morrell

10 Money Tips You Can Act On In 5 Minutes

ETF Database

For US Troops, The Toughest Battle Is Waiting For Them Back At Home

Paul Szoldra

File your taxes online in six easy steps

Big Decisions

9 tips to fly cheaper and get through airport security faster

Elle Hardy

I've had the same bank account since age 12. After a ton of research, I've found 5 places I could move it to earn up to 200 times more

Caroline Lupini

Umpqua Bank promises a 'people first' customer experience, but it's actually better online than in person

Kamran Rosen

How Tiny Estonia Became A Leader In Technology

The Economist

Blockchain Technology can be a gamechanger in the FinTech industry

Guest Author

Here are all the fees you'll pay when using the Robinhood app - and how to avoid them

Kim Porter

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides